Dusk had barely settled when Julian Hale's car finally pulled up to the villa.

The black sedan gleamed in the fading light, throwing off a soft shimer as the door swung open — and all three kids came running.

Serena was fastest, legs flying. Jaden had hit a growth spurt and could actually hold his little sister now. Zoe stretched both arms out wide, shrieking for her daddy, and just like that, every bit of exhaustion Julian had carried home ...